The very idea of things

Last weekend a friend of a friend asked me what I loved about New York. I thought and I thought and realised that I really love the IDEA of New York. I'm not sure if this is sadly superficial or tragically idealistic. Ideas and realities are often far apart. The idea that New York is home to a million fantastic restaurants - when really there are many many mediocre restaurants and a handful of gems. Same goes for shops. Same goes for bars. The idea that the subway is a convenient and quick form of travel - when really Timon and I spent an hour and a half going up and downtown trying to get the F train to Brooklyn. Seems they just closed some stations for no reason. The idea that there is a never-ending parade of entertainment options in the city - when really, no normal people can afford to do 3/4 of that stuff on their salary.

I do have moments of awesome realisation and these are what I tried to communicate to this friend. Like when I work an 8 hour shift staring out the tiny kiosk window that is Jack's Coffee and get really grouchy when I spill litres of hot coffee down my shirt BUT then walk outside the shop, lock the door and look up. And I'm in midtown Manhattan. It's pretty cool. I often have that feeling in the mornings when I'm walking to the C train on the way to work. I'm scowling down 105th because I had to get out of bed but then I turn the corner onto Central Park West, see all those fancy mansions and get a little perspective. I love the idea of living in New York, so much so that I persuaded my boyfriend to move here on little more than a wisp of a dream. More than that I love the idea of living in the United States. This is based on my previous experiences here and a total fascination for the culture, differences (and obsession with tack). I love having sneaky margaritas after work with friends and looking up at the Chrysler Building on the walk home. And I love Times Square.

I was having all these thoughts last night in a drug fueled tonsillitis haze. They were definitely more coherent then. The crux of the matter is that while I can't pick out specific things I love about living in New York (because almost everything can be said about other cities) just the IDEA of it keeps a smile on my face.